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Triumph unveil hot new Street Triple 765 RS

Published:
10 January 2017

A whole decade has passed since Triumph unveiled the original Street Triple, which emerged blinking its trademark round headlamps into the daylight for 2007. It instantly defined a whole new attitude for naked middleweights, gobsmacking everyone who rode it with it’s superb versatility and rampant naughty side. Triumph had crashed in from stage-left with a bike that instantly made the Japanese offerings look numbingly dull, and delivered a characterful alternative to the Italians. It was an instant hit.

Revisions in 2012, and bigger ones in 2013, offered further refinements on the theme without diluting or particularly sharpening the proposition, but this new 2017 model looks set move the dial dramatically.

Available in three main versions, the new 765cc range starts at £8000otr with an S model, which is bettered by the R (see page 7), and topped out by the bike you see here – the new Street Triple RS. And as if that wasn’t enough choice, Triumph will offer a low ride height version of the R, and an A2 licence compliant version of the S that boasts a unique 660cc version of the triple.

The unequivocal star of the show though is the RS. It’s the most powerful, lightest, most electronically advanced and highest spec’d Street Triple ever. While the 765 capacity might look like a slice of marketing symmetry based on its 675 forebear, it was actually a coincidence born of taking the existing dimensions and crankcases, then optimising every millimetre of available space.

Developed from the Daytona engine, the new 765cc Street Triple engine delivers a major step up in power and torque. With more than 80 new parts including new crank, pistons and Nikasil plated aluminium barrels, and bespoke cams for each model all combine with the increased bore and stroke. It shares only 10% of its parts with the old Street engine, but 50% with the Daytona, while it weighs 1.2 kg less than the 675.

While recognisably still a Street Triple (Triumph had no desire to alienate their dedicated fan base) this bike is light-years ahead of the 2016 model. Beyond the serious engine upgrades, the big news is the proliferation of electronics. From the 5” TFT colour dash, to the ride-by-wire throttle, five rider modes, traction control, quickshifter and switchable multi-mode ABS, it’s dripping in tech. The RS is primarily a road bike, but Triumph are confident that track addicts will be equally happy on-board – even offering track specific rider and ABS modes, as well as coming on trackday-friendly Pirelli Supercorsa SP tyres as standard.

The spec is everything we hoped for from Triumph, while in the metal the improvements in quality of finish, fit and packaging are clear to see – and we only have to wait another four weeks before we can test how all this translates into the ride.

2017 Triumph Street Triple 765 RS – in detail

Engine – Power is up 16% over the previous model, delivering 121bhp @ 11,700rpm and a peak torque increase of 13%, providing 56.8lbft @ 10,800rpm on the RS. First and second gear ratios are also shorter, and there’s a new slip and assist clutch for lighter clutch action and control under aggressive downshifts.

Headlamps – The face gets a little more aggressive for 2017. Very similar to the Speed Triple, the headlamps have evolved and there’s now an air intake nestling top and centre like an angry monobrow. The RS gets distinctive new LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) that are 28x brighter than the previous generation bulb sidelight, while drawing less power.

Bodywork – Although instantly familiar, all the bodywork is all-new. The RS gets the highest level of finish in the range, with colour coded belly pan, colour coded pillion seat cowl with interchangeable pillion seat and lower chain guard. It also gets bar-end mirrors to set it apart from the R and S. It will be available in Matt Silver Ice or Phantom Black (Metallic).

Brakes – The RS has range topping Brembo M50 4-piston radial monobloc calipers and 310mm discs up front, delivering superbike levels of stopping power, with a ratio and span adjustable lever. At the rear is a Brembo single piston caliper chomping on a 220mm disc. The switchable ABS can controlled through the ‘Rider Programmable’ mode, with settings on offer of Road, Track, and Off. There’s no Cornering ABS though.

Suspension – The RS gets the highest-specification suspension in the range, underlining its road and track pretensions. That means top-spec fully adjustable 41mm Showa upside down big piston forks (BPF), while the back end is the only non-Showa item in the whole range, sporting a premium slice of fully adjustable Öhlins STX40 piggyback hardware.

Dash & Switchgear – There’s an all-new angle adjustable colour 5” TFT dash on the RS with six different screen display styles to choose from, pre-set to the riding modes and changeable on the move. As well as speed and revs, the dash will display gear position, two trip displays, average and instantaneous fuel consumption, range to empty, riding mode selection, display style and contrast settings, service information, coolant temperature, warning symbols and a lap timer. To navigate the new instruments there are all-new ‘switch cubes’ controlled by a 5-way joystick on the lefthand switchgear.

Quickshifter – The RS gets a quickshifter as standard, allowing for clutchless upshifts that Triumph claim are up to 2.5 times quicker than a skilled rider using a standard clutch upshift – but no autoblipper. While it’s standard fitment on the RS, it can also be added as an accessory option on the S and R models.

Chassis – The main frame is very heavily based on the existing unit, with only minor changes for new mounting points and with a revised swingarm pivot point to reduce rear-end compression under hard acceleration. The all-new gullwing swingarm boasts increased longitudinal torsional stiffness, combined with a reduction in lateral stiffness, providing the rider with more inherent mechanical grip and feedback while maximising stability at higher speeds.

Electronic assistance – One of the key changes for the 2017 Street Triple is the massive increase in electronic rider assistance. The first part of that is the addition of a ride-by-wire (RBW) throttle that enables the ECU to offer different rider modes and communicate with other support systems such as traction control and ABS. The RBW is also claimed to deliver more accurate throttle response, and improved on/off throttle transition.

The top spec RS gets the biggest suite of gizmos, with five new riding modes that adjust throttle response, ABS and traction control settings. The settings are: Road, Rain, Sport, Rider Programmable and Track, and each has its own distinct fuelling characteristics, and tailored ABS and traction control settings. The Programmable setting allows the rider to set their own parameters and combinations, including control of the switchable ABS – which can be set to Road, Track, or Off.